Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has disclosed details surrounding his removal from office in 2020, alleging that he was ousted through a virtual meeting conducted at the Presidential Villa.
Speaking during an interview on African Independent Television (AIT), Oshiomhole reflected on his time as APC national chairman, highlighting what he described as his contributions to the growth and stability of the ruling party.
According to the former chairman, the APC under his leadership successfully navigated internal challenges and played a crucial role in securing the electoral victory of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“I led my party to victory under Buhari. With my colleagues in the National Working Committee (NWC), we were able to fix the leadership tussle of the National Assembly, both the Senate and the House of Representatives effortlessly,” Oshiomhole said.
He explained that members of the party leadership undertook extensive consultations and mobilization efforts across the country, helping to strengthen the APC and consolidate its political influence.
“Our president didn’t have to run around the country to talk to people. We did the marketing, explanation, persuasion and all the tools available to manage democracy,” he added.
Oshiomhole, however, alleged that after stability was restored within the party, certain interests moved against him and began plotting his removal from office.
According to him, attempts to remove him through internal party mechanisms proved unsuccessful, leading some party members to seek legal avenues to achieve the objective.
“Once the system got stabilized, I was sacked through a Zoom, and when people couldn’t get me removed democratically, they claimed that eight members of my ward signed a petition that they passed a vote of no confidence on me,” he stated.
The former labour leader further recounted the legal battle that followed, claiming that an interim court order obtained against him was initially overturned by the Court of Appeal before being reinstated weeks later.
“And on that basis they took the matter to the court, which granted their interim order. I appealed the order. The Court of Appeal quashed it. Three weeks later, the Court of Appeal called us back and restated the order. A few days later, I saw for the first time a National Executive Council (NEC) held by Zoom in the Villa,” Oshiomhole said.
His remarks have reignited discussions over the political developments that led to his removal as APC national chairman in June 2020, a move that significantly altered the party’s leadership structure ahead of subsequent electoral contests.
As of the time of filing this report, the APC had not issued an official response to Oshiomhole’s latest claims.
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